As the lanterns lit up, fallen leaves danced through the air.
Long strings of flower boats lit their lanterns along the Ye Ming River, beautiful women with gracefully moving limbs standing at the bow of each boat, waving their handkerchiefs and greeting the passersby.
Many scholars paused to watch, their eyes filled with longing. It was a land of tenderness and the bed of their dreams, but their shyness and thin wallets left them hanging their heads in defeat and walking away reluctantly.
By the river, in a quiet corner, there was a small, unassuming tavern.
The candlelight flickered dimly, supplementing the sparse moonlight. A few solitary patrons drank cheap wine, accompanied by a warm pot of Peach Blossom Drunk, a plate of peanuts, and a dish of fennel beans.
The majority of guests were poor, and most dishes served were inexpensive and of lower quality. Occasionally, there would be a plate of crude meat dishes, nothing more than scraps and offal fried in strong alcohol.
